Ministry of Defence

Afghanistan - Update

earl howe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Sir Michael Fallon) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. On 1 June 2017 I said that NATO had requested additional troops to support the non-combat Train Advise and Assist Resolute Support (RS) mission in Afghanistan. This request went to all countries that are part of the RS mission to implement a new strategy developed by NATO, in partnership with the Afghan Government, to reinvigorate the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF). The strategy’s goal is to expand governance and security throughout Afghanistan and, in turn, set the conditions for progress on a political settlement with the Taliban. The security situation in Afghanistan remains challenging. The ANDSF are improving but the rate of their development is affected by a range of complex challenges, not least the nature and strength of a determined insurgency. The NATO strategy will address these challenges.The Government has carefully considered the NATO request and we have decided to increase the UK’s troop contribution to the RS mission by around 85 personnel. These troops will serve in non-combat roles to support directly the implementation of the NATO strategy. We will increase the number of mentors advising the Afghan Army and Police, the Afghan Air Force, and provide further support to ANDSF training and leadership development. This deployment will add to the significant contribution the UK is already making to the RS mission. We have around 500 troops based in Kabul serving in roles focused on improving the capability of the Afghan security institutions, developing the Afghan National Army Officer Academy and providing vital force protection for NATO advisors through our leadership of the Kabul Security Force. Through helping to achieve progress in Afghanistan, our troops have helped to reduce the terrorist threat to the UK from this region. Military support is only part of the solution. Our continued military, diplomatic and financial assistance is designed to enable and support the advancement of the Afghan-led peace process to deliver a political settlement and lasting stability. Finally, I wish to record my gratitude and admiration for all of our brave men and women who have served in Afghanistan. The UK will never forget the sacrifice made by the 456 members of the Armed Forces who died during operations there. They helped protect our country from the threat of terrorism and, through our continued support to the mission, we are working to protect their legacy.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

lord ahmad of wimbledon: My right Honourable Friend, the Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson), has made the following written Ministerial statement:1 July marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). The UK joins Hong Kong in celebrating the success of the SAR, and its continued prosperity and vitality. Hong Kong is dynamic, innovative and forward-looking. Hong Kong’s success is built on its high degree of autonomy, as enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Basic Law (Hong Kong’s Constitution), centred on key freedoms, strong rule of law, and an independent judiciary.As set out in the Government’s latest six-monthly report to the House on 24 February, the Government’s assessment remains that the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle is functioning well in the vast majority of areas. ‘One Country, Two Systems’ has allowed the UK’s relationship with Hong Kong to flourish across a whole range of areas, including trade and investment, education, science, innovation and technology. Hong Kong is our second biggest export market in Asia with UK exports worth just over £8 billion and over 630 British companies have offices in the territory. Both the UK and Hong Kong SAR Governments share the same commitment to making global trade easier and more transparent.The UK recognises the specific concerns over the implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’, as set out in the Government’s six-monthly reports to the House. The UK believes that it is vital for Hong Kong’s continued success that the SAR’s high degree of autonomy and rule of law are preserved and that the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ is fully upheld. The UK therefore welcomes statements by the Chinese Government and the Hong Kong SAR Government expressing commitment to the faithful implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’.The UK continues to believe that it is in Hong Kong’s best interests that discussion resumes between all parties in Hong Kong in order to make further progress towards a more democratic and accountable system of government, as provided for in the Basic Law.The UK Government congratulates the new Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Carrie Lam, on her forthcoming inauguration on 1 July, and wishes her a successful term in office. The UK Government looks forwards to working with the Chief Executive to deepen UK-Hong Kong relations and support Hong Kong to prosper long into the future.

20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

lord ahmad of wimbledon: My right Honourable Friend, the Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson), has made the following written Ministerial statement:1 July marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). The UK joins Hong Kong in celebrating the success of the SAR, and its continued prosperity and vitality. Hong Kong is dynamic, innovative and forward-looking. Hong Kong’s success is built on its high degree of autonomy, as enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Basic Law (Hong Kong’s Constitution), centred on key freedoms, strong rule of law, and an independent judiciary.As set out in the Government’s latest six-monthly report to the House on 24 February, the Government’s assessment remains that the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle is functioning well in the vast majority of areas. ‘One Country, Two Systems’ has allowed the UK’s relationship with Hong Kong to flourish across a whole range of areas, including trade and investment, education, science, innovation and technology. Hong Kong is our second biggest export market in Asia with UK exports worth just over £8 billion and over 630 British companies have offices in the territory. Both the UK and Hong Kong SAR Governments share the same commitment to making global trade easier and more transparent.The UK recognises the specific concerns over the implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’, as set out in the Government’s six-monthly reports to the House. The UK believes that it is vital for Hong Kong’s continued success that the SAR’s high degree of autonomy and rule of law are preserved and that the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ is fully upheld. The UK therefore welcomes statements by the Chinese Government and the Hong Kong SAR Government expressing commitment to the faithful implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’.The UK continues to believe that it is in Hong Kong’s best interests that discussion resumes between all parties in Hong Kong in order to make further progress towards a more democratic and accountable system of government, as provided for in the Basic Law.The UK Government congratulates the new Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Carrie Lam, on her forthcoming inauguration on 1 July, and wishes her a successful term in office. The UK Government looks forwards to working with the Chief Executive to deepen UK-Hong Kong relations and support Hong Kong to prosper long into the future.

Cabinet Office

Grenfell Tower Fire

baroness evans of bowes park: My Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement to the House of Commons:I am announcing today the appointment of Sir Martin Moore-Bick to head the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire. The Inquiry will be established under the 2005 Inquiries Act, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath. The Inquiry will be held in public.In relation to the appointment of the Chair, the Lord Chancellor asked the Lord Chief Justice for the name of a judge who, in his view, would be best suited to the task and available to start work immediately so that we can get answers to what happened as quickly as possible. The Lord Chief Justice recommended Sir Martin Moore-Bick – a highly respected and hugely experienced former Court of Appeal judge. I have accepted the Lord Chief Justice’s recommendation.I am determined that there will be justice for all the victims of this terrible tragedy and for their families who have suffered so terribly.The immediate priority is to establish the facts of what happened at Grenfell Tower in order to take the necessary action to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. But beyond that immediate focusit is also important that all the wider lessons from both this catastrophe, and the inspections of other buildings around the country that followed it, are identified and learnt.Before the Inquiry starts Sir Martin will consult all those with an interest, including survivors and victims’ families, about the terms of reference. Following that consultation he will make a recommendation to me. I will return to Parliament with the final terms of reference once this process has taken place. Then the Inquiry will begin its work.We must get to the truth about what happened. No stone will be left unturned by this Inquiry, but I have also been clear that we cannot wait for ages to learn the immediate lessons and so I expect the Chair will want to produce an interim report as early as possible.